Description: The DR Congo and the M23 rebel alliance have signed a declaration of principles which has been mediated by Qatar and would be integrated in the comprehensive peace agreement signed between DRC and Rwandan representatives in Jun. The declaration stipulated the cessation of hostilities between the Congolese armed forces and the rebel alliance on all fronts, mutual respect for territorial integrity and the return of Congolese law enforcement in M23 occupied territories as well as the exchange of prisoners. The warring parties are expected to fulfill these obligations by the end of Jul, while the declaration’s implementation into the final peace agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC is expected to begin in Aug. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stated that the declaration represented a groundbreaking achievement for reaching the long-lasting peace agreement in the DRC.
Impact: The declaration effectively represents an official diplomatic mechanism of integrating the M23 rebel alliance in the peace process after being isolated from the signing of the peace agreement in Washington. Both sides have made official commitments towards the cessation of hostilities, however, concerns remain high over the implementation and monitoring mechanisms of the entire comprehensive peace agreement. M23 hasn’t committed towards disarmament or withdrawing from the occupied territories and credible peacekeeping mechanisms to maintain the ceasefire haven’t been established neither through the agreement in Washington nor through the declaration signed in Qatar. Recent developments in the eastern DRC have shown increased operational activity by offshoots of the Islamic State which are threatening of reinitiating hostilities between the M23 rebel alliance and DRC’s security forces. Both agreements remain implementable in theory, however, the lack of concise commitments from both sides indicates an unstable ceasefire which threatens renewed armed confrontations.